Psychosomatic symptoms and mental distress related to stressful working conditions among nurses in Hebron. A longitudinal study

High levels of perceived stressful working conditions may have an adverse effect on physical and mental health. Occupational stressors among nurses include a lack of perceived social support from supervisors and peers, caring for dying patients and working overtime. A large proportion of nurses are engaged in shift work, with round the clock care for patients. Several studies have reported that women face different stressors than men, and that they may react in different ways than men to perceived stressors.

Materials and Methods: Hebron district has about 505,693 inhabitants. In the district there are five main hospitals. In addition nurses are employed in primary health care clinics and private and (UNRWA) clinics. A total of 542 nurses were working in the hospitals and primary health clinics in 2008. 454 nurses were available for the cross-sectional study and 442 accepted (particip. rate 97.4). About 40% were men.

Data Collection and Questionnaires: Work characteristics, Sociodemographic data, Work characteristics, Life style behaviors and drug consumption: Level of perceived stressful working conditions, Psychosomatic symptoms, Mental
distress. Data collection is completed.

Article published:
Yousef Jaradat, Rita Bast-Pettersen, Khaldoun Nijem, Espen Bjertness, Lars Lien, Petter Kristensen, Hein Stigum. The impact of shift work on mental health measured by GHQ-30: a comparative study. Middle East Journal of Psychiatry and Alzheimers 2012; Volume 3, Issue 1